Norcross Pokes Fun at Christie Over Bridgegate Scandal

Democratic powerbroker George Norcross III took the opportunity to poke fun at Gov. Chris Christie during a groundbreaking ceremony for the state's first renaissance school on Wednesday, nj.com reports.

In speaking about the fundraiser for Bellmawr's Larc School, in which about 7,000 runners cross the Ben Franklin Bridge each November, Norcross told Christie, "I'm the one who's able to shut down the bridge," according to the report.

He went on to state "No governor has ever worked more diligently for South Jersey than Gov. Christie," according to the report.

Christie laughed at the joke, but didn't take any questions regarding the scandal, according to the report.

Norcross made the joke less than two months after Thomas Kean Sr. accused Norcross and the governor of brokering a deal for Christie not to campaign against southern New Jersey Democrats in November's elections. Sen. President Stephen Sweeney defeated Kean's son in the Third Legislative District race.

Norcross' son, Donald Norcross, officially announced he will run for the First Congressional District seat left vacant by Robert Andrews. Christie has yet to announce a timeline for an election to fill that seat.

The renaissance school that was the subject of the groundbreaking is the first of its kind in the state. It's a type of charter school that is financed differently and needs district approval, according to the report.